BioNanomatrix, Inc., a developer of breakthrough nanoscale whole genome imaging platforms for genetic diagnostics, personalized medicine and biomedical research, today announced the appointment of noted biophysicist Paul R. Selvin, Ph.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Selvin is professor of physics and biophysics and John Bardeen Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Dr. Selvin's research focus includes single molecule detection and nanoscale fluorescent measurement. He is the inventor of a widely used nanoimaging technique called FIONA, or Fluorescence Imaging with One Nanometer Accuracy. In 2006, his achievements in developing novel nanoscale tools won him Tel Aviv University's prestigious International Raymond and Beverly Sackler Award for the most outstanding advance in biophysics, noting his pioneering discoveries of fluorescence techniques and his work in single molecule detection and ultra-sensitive instrumentation. Dr. Selvin also was selected for the Biophysical Society's top award for Outstanding Young Investigator in 2004, and he has been the recipient of many other honors.
"Paul has extensive experience in nanotechnology research and development, both as a noted scientific researcher and an inventor of important research tools," said Dr. Han Cao, chief scientific officer and founder of BioNanomatrix. "His work in the area of single molecule imaging is especially relevant to the development of our single molecule whole genome imaging and analysis platform, and we anticipate he will be a valuable contributor as we advance the development of our nanoscale technologies."
Dr. Selvin joined the department of physics at the University of Illinois in 1997, where he has focused his research efforts on technology development and biological applications for the study of the dynamics of biological macromolecules using fluorescence. He developed the FIONA imaging technique, which can deliver 1.5 nanometer spatial localization of single fluorescent molecules with 1-500 millisecond temporal resolution, an advance in precision over previous fluorescence imaging techniques. He has developed a number of single molecule fluorescence modifications for the FIONA system, as well as single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Previously, Dr. Selvin served as a scientist and researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Michigan and Coulter Biomedical Research Corporation.
"BioNanomatrix has distinctive nanoscale single molecule technology that has the potential to transform whole genome imaging and analysis, enabling researchers to conduct DNA analyses much faster and less expensively than with existing methods, while also achieving greater accuracy and retaining valuable contextual information," said Dr. Selvin. "I look forward to working with the BioNanomatrix team to contribute to the process of advancing the technical and commercial development of this promising new approach."
Dr. Selvin received a B.S. from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Selvin has authored over 70 publications and holds five patents.